Method and means for programming the operation of an apparatus
AssigneeEmhart Industries, Inc.
InventorsDaniel I. Pomerantz, Richard V. Baxter, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and means for programming the operation of an apparatus having at least a plurality of different control functions provides a control panel, an arrangement for causing the control panel to appear blank prior to initial activation of the apparatus, circuitry for initially activating the apparatus, and circuitry responsive to initial activation for indicating and allowing selection of the different control functions, the circuitry for indicating and allowing selection including circuitry for sequentially displaying the control functions on the control panel to allow selection thereof.
Claims12
An apparatus having at least a plurality of different control functions, comprising:
- a control panel including a plurality of separate portions each of which corresponds to a different said control function;
- means for causing said control panel to appear blank prior to initial activation of said apparatus;
- means for initially activating said apparatus;
- and
- means responsive to said means for initially activating for indicating and allowing selection of said different control functions, said means for indicating and allowing selection including means for sequentially displaying said control functions in their respective control panel portions to allow sequential selection thereof, said means for sequentially displaying including means for sequentially illuminating each of said portions of said control panel in response to said means for initially activating and in response to selections of control functions corresponding to illuminated control panel portions, said selected control functions remaining illuminated during the sequential illumination of further portions of said control panel.
A control panel for an apparatus having at least a plurality of control functions, comprising:
- means for causing said control panel to appear blank prior to initial activation of said apparatus;
- a plurality of separate portions located on said control panel and corresponding to different control functions;
- means for initially activating said apparatus;
- and
- means responsive to said means for initially activating for indicating and allowing selection of said different control functions, said means for indicating and allowing selection including means for sequentially displaying said control functions in their corresponding control panel portions to allow selection thereof, said means for sequentially displaying including means for sequentially illuminating each of said portions of said control panel in response to said means for initially activating and in response to selections of control functions corresponding to illuminated control panel portions, said selected control functions remaining illuminated during the sequential illumination of further portions of said control panel.
A method for displaying a plurality of selectable control functions of an apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- causing a control panel including means for displaying each of said control functions on separate portions thereof to appear blank prior to initial activation of said apparatus;
- and
- causing said control functions to be sequentially displayed on said control panel by sequential illumination of said separate portions after initial activation of said apparatus and in response to a selection of the previously displayed control functions, said previously displayed control functions remaining illuminated during said sequential illumination of further portions of said control panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.